Book Review: Bad Blood by Kristen Painter

Bad Blood by Kristen Painter
(House of Comarré, #3)
Release Date: November 22, 2011
Publisher: Orbit Books; 352 pages

Samhain approaches, bringing with it the final melding of the mortal and othernatural worlds. No one knows just how much power the night holds...

Violent murders occur in Paradise City as counterfeit comarré are systematically hunted. The police and the Kubai Mata have more than enough trouble to keep themselves occupied. As war erupts at home, Malkolm and Chrysabelle head to New Orleans to recover the Ring of Sorrows. Chrysabelle is forced to make a life and death decision and will realize that her relationship to Malkolm may have fatal consequences.

The clock is ticking . . .

This series does NOT disappoint. However, it’s such a bummer that these books came out about a month a part and now we have to wait for the fourth book. The wait is going to be excruciating. But it will be worth it, if they’re as amazing as BLOOD RIGHTS, FLESH AND BLOOD and most recently, BAD BLOOD. Amazing books; I’m looking forward to more. (I may go insane from lack of Mal & Chrysabelle…)

Let me start this review off by saying one thing I admire about Kristen Painter is she is never afraid of killing. Some authors have trouble killing people (whether it’s a main character or not) but Kristen doesn’t struggle at all. Especially with Tatiana. I’ve lost count on how many “people” she has killed. And Tatiana has no regrets doing it. It’s kind of exciting to see who might kicked it in the next book.

That being said, BAD BLOOD was absolutely amazing. Much better than FLESH AND BLOOD, this is saying something because FLESH AND BLOOD was really good, as well.

It seems like both Tatiana and Chrysabelle have gotten distracted in this book from killing each other & I must say, I really enjoyed that. Instead, they both have different missions in mind. Tatiana was handed something precious by one of the ancients and was told to take great care of it which she most definitely will. Meanwhile, Chrysabelle is solely focused on getting her sigma’s back and finding out whom the identity of her brother is.

But that’s not the best part of this, oh absolutely not. Do you want to know what it is? Of course you do! Both Chrysabelle and Mal FINALLY acknowledge their feelings for one another. They go above and beyond what I was hoping. Well…there was a really sexy scene that was cut way too short. It involves a piano. That is all I will say. But they’re not where I need them to be…and I can’t wait to read books 4 & 5 to see it happen! It makes me so excited and you know, it will SO be worth the wait, I know it will.

Creek has become likable. If you remember I said in the previous book that I didn’t like him trying to go after Chrysabelle and I stick by that but in BAD BLOOD he realizes where his place is and it’s not with her. I may have squealed a little bit, to be honest. But let’s not tell anyone this. ;) He plays a much bigger role in this book and it’s exciting to see what he does and how well he does it. He also fits in really well with the group that has formed, with Fionna, Doc, Mal & Chrysabelle.

We get to know more about Damian, who was Tatiana’s Comar before he escaped her toward the end of FLESH AND BLOOD. I like him from the get go. He was smart enough to get away from that bitch and I applaud him for it. (He’s still alive to talk about it so I say kudos to him. Most don’t live to tell about how they crossed her.) Who knows how big of a role he will become… ;)

The absence of Dominic didn’t upset me too much. Actually, I hardly even noticed he wasn’t there. But seeing more of his right hand man, Mortalis, was really awesome. We get to go back to his prior home, New Orleans and it was just spectacular seeing more to him. I love him and I really love him even more after this book.

To summarize, this series just keeps getting better and better. I cannot wait to see what else is to come. With how this book left off it has me tapping my fingers, sitting here waiting and waiting. My fingers may bleed ;) If you love fantasy, have a thing for vampires (that do not sparkle) and are looking for two characters that are so right for each other it hurts – pick up this series. You have three books to read while we wait for more!